The EW Podcast - Joel Simmons with Tyler Bloom - Shaping the Future of Turf Careers

This week, we welcome back Tyler Bloom of Bloom Golf Partners, an executive search and business consulting firm. Tyler began his career as a golf course superintendent, managing turf across several courses in the mid-Atlantic. Five years ago, he launched his company to help golf course managers improve recruitment strategies. Since then, Bloom Golf Partners has grown rapidly, expanding its focus beyond staffing to include broader business consulting services.

In this episode, we dive into a recent project Tyler developed with Pat Jones from Flagstick LLC—the Golf Course Superintendent Employment Trends Study: Assistant Superintendents. This must-read report is available for free at www.bloomgolfpartners.com.

We spend time exploring the survey’s findings, particularly the generational differences in work habits and values. One standout insight: assistant superintendents rated soft skills—leadership, communication, and business knowledge—as four times more important than agronomic expertise. The study also highlights ongoing concerns around work and life balance, long hours, anxiety, and low compensation as key barriers to employee retention.

Ultimately, the conversation reinforces the need for leadership and communication training as essential tools for superintendents who want to build strong, loyal teams. The survey found that 60% of assistant superintendents are fully committed to making this their long-term career. It’s a fascinating discussion—and one that’s well worth your time.

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